drawback
B2neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
A disadvantage or problem that makes something less attractive.
A negative feature or consequence; a thing that detracts from an otherwise positive situation; historically, a tax or duty refunded on exported goods.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A drawback is typically considered a specific, significant negative aspect within a broader context of positives or benefits. It is often a reversible or offsetting factor, not necessarily a deal-breaker.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Slight variation in idiomatic contexts.
Connotations
Identical connotations of disadvantage or hindrance.
Frequency
Equally common and standard in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The (only/main) drawback to/of NOUN is...have the drawback of VERB+ingbe seen as a drawbackVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The only fly in the ointment”
- “A cloud on the horizon”
- “Every rose has its thorn.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The main drawback of the merger is the potential for significant job losses.'
Academic
'A major drawback of the longitudinal study was its high participant attrition rate.'
Everyday
'The only drawback of this flat is the noisy road outside.'
Technical
'A key drawback of the early lithium-ion batteries was their tendency to overheat.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We had to draw back from the deal when the hidden costs emerged.
- The government drew back from implementing the controversial policy.
American English
- He drew back from making a hasty decision.
- The company drew back from the aggressive marketing campaign.
adverb
British English
- No established adverbial form.
- Not applicable.
American English
- No established adverbial form.
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- A drawback clause was included in the contract.
- No specific adjectival use is common.
American English
- No specific adjectival use is common.
- The drawback provision was negotiated carefully.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The hotel was lovely. The only drawback was the small swimming pool.
- A drawback of my job is the long hours.
- Living in the countryside has one main drawback: poor public transport.
- The plan's biggest drawback is its high cost.
- Despite its numerous benefits, the software has the significant drawback of being incompatible with older systems.
- The candidate's lack of experience was seen as a serious drawback by the hiring panel.
- The proposed legislation's chief drawback lies in its potential to infringe upon civil liberties.
- While the theory is elegant, a major methodological drawback undermines the validity of its conclusions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of it as a feature that 'draws' you 'back' from fully committing to something.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN OBSTACLE/IMPEDIMENT (e.g., A weight pulling you back, a barrier on a path).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend: not related to 'рисовать' (to draw a picture).
- Do not confuse with 'backdraw' or 'draw back' (verb phrase meaning to retreat).
- Closer to 'недостаток' or 'минус' than 'проблема'.
Common Mistakes
- Using as a verb: 'This *drawbacks* the process.' (Incorrect) vs. 'This is a drawback for the process.' (Correct).
- Confusing spelling: 'draw back' (two words) is a verb phrase.
- Overuse in place of simpler terms like 'problem' or 'bad thing'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a typical synonym for 'drawback'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral; appropriate in both everyday and formal contexts (business, academic).
A 'drawback' is usually a specific disadvantage within a generally positive situation. A 'problem' is a broader, often more serious, difficulty that needs solving.
No. 'Drawback' is a noun. The verb phrase is 'draw back' (two words), meaning to retreat or recoil.
/ˈdrɑː.bæk/ The first part rhymes with 'saw' or 'law'.